A DRUNK trucker had sunk six cans of beer when he was stopped by police on the A55.

The Irish heavy goods driver was caught after a worker at Tesco's store in Bangor smelled alcohol on his breath before watching the tipsy driver clamber up to the cab of his 26-tonne lorry.

The worker then called North Wales Police, who caught up with the inebriated Paraic Murphy, 30, driving along the A55 at Dwygyfylchi, near Conwy.

The traffic officers on patrol gave Murphy a roadside breath-test which came back with a reading of 84 micrograms of alcohol in a 100 millilitres of breath – more than twice the drink-drive limit of 35.

Murphy was arrested at 2.50am on Wednesday, and the 6ft 3ins trucker was hauled before magistrates at Caernarfon a few hours later where he was handed an 18-month ban and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £235.

Crown Prosecutor Diane Williams told the court that Murphy was charged with driving a motor vehicle when above the alcohol limit.

His defence solicitor, Nicola Jones, said Murphy pleaded guilty and was “utterly remorseful and aware of the implications of driving when under the influence of alcohol.”

Murphy admitted he had drunk six cans of beer during his rest break. The court heard that he was driving a lorry-load of frozen food to Kent when he was stopped.

Ms Jones told the court that a tearful Murphy, a single man, had now “lost his job and his home” because he was living in the truck.

Sergeant Tony Gatley from the North Wales Police Roads Policing Unit, said: “This was an extremely dangerous and foolish act by a man who was driving a 26-tonne HGV.

“It is only through sheer luck that he was stopped before causing an extremely serious collision which could easily have resulted in being fatal.

He added: “Drink driving is unacceptable and we will continue to act on any information we receive regarding those who get behind the wheel while intoxicated.

“Although the official Summer Anti Drink Drive Campaign may be over, we will continue to target those who flout the law. Please heed the warning.”